Tuesday, April 2, 2013

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition


[Bobby Williams]

Cash mob Sunday evening at El Sombrero on Ludlow (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Comparing prices at neighborhood groceries (The Lo-Down)

Crif Dogs proposing a food truck at the former Billy's Antiques (Grub Street)

About the Downtown Music Festival (BoweryBoogie)

Ghost signage on First Avenue (Ephemeral New York)

Acid Flashback: The art of the Fillmore East (Off the Grid)

Goodbye Bar 82 (The Gog Log)

The Bloomberg administration has preserved more of New York City's architecture than any of his predecessors (The Wall Street Journal)

A look back at Cop Shoot Cop (Flaming Pablum)

Tentative re-opening dates for old-timers Bridge Cafe and Paris Cafe at the Seaport (Eater)

On Coney Island, Shoot the Freak is now Shoot the Clown (Amusing the Zillion)

... and springtime outside the great Enz's on Second Avenue...

Morning tweets

John Penley plans campout at Ben Shaoul's Magnum Real Estate offices this weekend

Longtime East Village activist John Penley is set to campout this weekend outside the offices of Ben Shaoul's Magnum Real Estate on Broadway in Soho. (Set to start at 5 p.m. Friday.)

Per the Facebook invite:

SHAOUL AND HIS REAL ESTATE COMPANY HAVE BEEN AN EVIL CORPORATE REAL ESTATE WRECKING AND GENTRIFICATION CREW IN THE EAST VILLAGE. THE WORST OF THE WORST !!!!

While Shaoul has been a widely criticized developer in the East Village for years, the recent revelations about actor-poet-writer Taylor Mead's living conditions were the impetus for this event.

Articles in The Villager and the Post and at BoweryBoogie have outlined the 88 year old's current living conditions while the Shaoul-owned building on Ludlow undergoes a gut renovation. (Mead, a former Andy Warhol star, had lived in the rent-stabilized apartment for 34 years and didn't want to leave.) According to the account in the Post, "Plaster falls from his walls and roaches crawl up his legs. The kitchen sink doesn’t work."

"It’s going to kill him,” said Clayton Patterson, a neighborhood activist and longtime friend. “This is elderly abuse. It’s pretty Third World when you think about it."

As Curbed put this particular episode, Shaoul is "up to his old tricks. Or, more specifically, his old trick — forcing stubborn, rent-stabilized tenants out of the apartments he owns by having their buildings demolished around them."

Penley had this to say to us via a message on Facebook:

"I am demanding at the protest that he give Taylor a renovated ground-floor apartment in Taylor's building rent free for the rest of his life and provide Taylor with home-care assistance. He just made so much cash speculating and flipping buildings on the LES that doing something humane like I suggest he do would be a very small gesture."

Shaoul has recently sold large parcels of his East Village buildings to developer Jared Kushner. Shaoul is currently converting the former Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation on Avenue B and East Fifth Street into residences.

Penley recently held a campout to call on NYU to help house the homeless.

Public plaza outside 51 Astor Place taking shape



Workers continue to create the plaza area in front of 51 Astor Place, the in-progress 12-story office building at the gateway (from the west) into the neighborhood ... the trees arrived for the space a few weeks back... we took a quick look inside yesterday, and spotted the granite seatbacks .. among other things, the plaza will feature plantings, bike racks and a piece of public art.

Here are some of the renderings showing the public plaza from one of the earlier meetings on the development...





Previously on EV Grieve:
The demolition of 51 Astor Place means the end of the New York Film Academy Café here

[June 2011]

Some East 2nd Street residents want a laundromat, but not a Living Room



The Living Room received another lease extension for their current home on Ludlow Street, as BoweryBoogie reported yesterday. Third extension in as many months for the live music venue.

Meanwhile, the folks from The Living Room are moving forward with plans to find a new home on East Second Street. As we reported last September, Klean & Kleaner, the laundromat at 173 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, was on the market for use as a bar or restaurant.

This potential Living Room move was a topic of conversation during a recent community meeting. Co-owner Jennifer Gilson attended that meeting, and made her case on why the Living Room would be a good neighbor, such as shows for kids, use of the space for neighborhood fund-raisers and no pub crawls.

However, from the meeting, East Second Street residents said that they are "vehemently opposed to the possibility of The Living Room" in that space for a variety of reasons, including:

• East 2nd Street is a residential side street whose residents include a large number of seniors and families with young children.
• As a residential street, we already endure excessive noise due to late night crowds from the many bars and restaurants already on our block and nearby.
• While we believe The Living Room is a wonderful part of the cultural fabric of New York City, its presence at 173 East 2nd Street will severely and negatively impact our quality of life.

The Living Room will go before the CB3/SLA committee next Monday. Gilson told BoweryBoogie:

Of course there’s a good chance that if they block our liquor license, another less-neighborhood friendly business with less community history will take the space.

[On April 8] I will argue why after 15 years of enhancing the quality of life by hosting great music, kids shows, fundraisers, theater, etc., I should be able to stay in my neighborhood, which I helped to transform, and not be pushed to Brooklyn…

One 18-year resident of the block told us in an email that he didn't have problems with The Living Room, "but I'd much rather keep the place as a laundromat."

Of course, the landlord has different ideas...

A few more details on El Diablito Taqueria, opening this spring on East Third Street


El Diablito Taqueria is coming soon to East Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue, as we noted on Jan. 21. And they are on the CB3/SLA committee agenda this month for a beer-wine license.

According to documents (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website, the shop will have just and a handful of tables... with a counter primarily for to-go orders. El Diablito Taqueria looks to have hours of 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturdays; with an 11 p.m. closing time on Sundays.

Here are a few interior shots from El Diablito's Facebook page...







The folks from the taqueria told us via Facebook that they hope to be open next week, but that date is pending...

Previously, this address was home to the wholly unique Hospital Productions, the specialty record store that closed late in 2011. ... not to mention reggae specialists Jammyland...

Soho Billiards eyeing move to Red Square

When we saw the following item on this month's CB3/SLA docket — NYC Billiards Club Inc, 250 E Houston St (op) — we didn't realize that this was the former Soho Billiards. The 22-year-old pool hall closed late last fall, as we first reported.

In any event, documents on file ahead of Monday's committee meeting show that the ownership is the same... and they are looking at taking over space in the Shoppes at Red Square between Avenue A and Avenue B. (It would be the space that Sleepy's used before they moved into the Blockbuster location.)

The new location would have hours of 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday; to 4 a.m. on Friday Saturdays, documents show. There would be one 10-foot bar (no food) with a total occupancy of 74 people.

As far as we can remember, there was a pool hall along here before the Blockbuster...

Muji opening on Cooper Square this April 12



As you may have heard, a Muji store — its fourth in Manhattan — is opening on Cooper Square ...

Workers told Bill the libertarian anarchist that the Japanese import, which sells various home goods and clothing and stuff, will indeed open here at 54 Cooper Square on April 12...

...and an interior shot from Friday via Muji's Facebook page...

Monday, April 1, 2013

[Updated] Here is your new Community Board 3

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer today proudly announced the appointment of 76 new members to Manhattan’s 12 Community Boards. This year’s appointees continue the trend of increased diversity among board members and include small business owners, including those recovering from Hurricane Sandy, NYCHA residents, clergy members, parent leaders and a fifth generation New Yorker. A full list of appointees can be found here.

Here's the rundown for our own CB3...



...if we can count, there are 8 new members, whose names are in bold in the list below...



The Lo-Down has more information about the 8 new members here.

The Lo-Down notes that one of the new CB3 members is Teresa Pedroza, the grandmother of Dashane Santana, the 12 year old who was killed while crossing Delancey Street last year. She was successful in calling on new safety measures for this notoriously dangerous stretch of Delancey.

[Photo of Teresa Pedroza from last May by Shawn Chittle]

Here is the Anthology Film Archives as the 27th Precinct



The exterior is converted to film a scene for the TV pilot "Ironside," as noted earlier today...

[Thanks to EVG Facebook friend Maud Dinand for the photo]

Nobu chef Toshio Tomita opening Cagen on East 9th Street

A tipster told us last month that a 15-year-alum of Nobu plans to take over the former Kajitsu space on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. (Kajitsu moved to East 39th Street.)

Nobu chef Toshio Tomita will open Cagen on East Ninth Street, according to CB3 documents. (PDF) The space will house 10 tables, seating 33 people, and will serve dinner from 5:30-11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturdays.

The documents on the CB3 website include menus... showing two full meals — one for $85 and one for $120...





Cagen reps will be applying for a beer-wine license at next Monday's CB3/SLA meeting. The 9th Street A-1 Block Association has entered into a "memorandum of understanding" with the applicant.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Nobu alum taking over Kajitsu space on East Ninth Street

Here's Jupiter 21, now in orbit around Second Avenue and East First Street



This past week the remaining scaffolding and construction netting came down at Jupiter 21, the apartment-retail complex at Second Avenue and East First Street... so now you have a really good idea of what it looks like, save the street-level plywood...





Per the J21 press materials:

The building will ultimately have 65 units: 13 affordable condos, 52 market-rate studio through two-bedroom rentals, and two commercial condos. Nine of those affordable condos "have been reserved for the tenants of the original buildings displaced by the new construction" ...



And a look behind the plywood... where there will be a fucking bank ... and maybe a Mars Bar 2.0?



Anyway, here is the rendering. How did they do?


Previously on EV Grieve:

What's next for the now-former Bar 82 space on Second Avenue



As we first reported on March 22, Bar 82 was shutting down at the end of the month ... We never did hear any official word why the neighborhood spot on Second Avenue near St. Mark's Place was closing...

Last night was the bar's grand finale ... Meanwhile, a tipster hears that the landlord does not want another bar or restaurant in the space... and is looking for "dry goods" as the basis for a new tenant.

Per the tipster: "So, Duane Reade? Chase? We could use a Chase on this block ..."

ABC Animal Hospital makes move to Avenue A



Last Thursday, ABC Animal Hospital on East 14th Street began the move to its new home at 200 Avenue A (the former Superdive!).

Per the signs out front....



And here's their message online:

Our new space is still under construction, but our pharmacy and store for food purchases will continue to operate in the basement of our new space. We expect to start seeing appointments as usual by April 16th. If you need assistance after Wednesday March 27th we can still provide basic treatments in our new space, can provide advice over the phone, or will refer you to another veterinarian.

Please excuse our appearance at the new location as we work towards building a beautiful space for you and your pets.

Thank you all for your patience and continued support.

Dr. Tufaro and staff,
ABC Animal Hospital

200 Ave A, Ground floor and basement
NY, NY, 10009
(212) 358 0785

The hospital is one of the many businesses on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B to either relocate or close. As we first reported in December, eight parcels consisting of 222 Avenue A and 504 - 530 E. 14th St. were leased for a 99-year period for some yet-unspecified project.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East 14th Street exodus continues

Anthology Film Archives becoming the 27th Precinct — for the 'Ironside' TV pilot



EVG reader Marjorie Ingall notes that crews will be in the neighborhood today filming part of the pilot for an "Ironside" remake with Blair Underwood in the Raymond Burr role ... as the police detective in a wheelchair...

(Side note: Don't fuck with "Ironside"!)



Apparently the show will be set in NYC and not San Francisco like the original... as part of the shoot, the exterior of the great Anthology Film Archives on Second Avenue and East Second Street will be transformed into "the 27th Precinct," according to one of the crew members...

Lordy, this all sounds so April Fool's Dayish. It is not.

Anyway, here's the show's opening credits ... from 1967...

[Updated] Reader report: biscuits and jams for former Habibi Lounge space on Avenue A

[First, I assure you that this is not an April Fool's gag...] Reliable sources tell us that the former Habibi Lounge space on Avenue A near East 12th Street .. will soon be home to a ... 24-hour biscuits-and-jams place. (Possibly English or Scottish?) And no liquor license.

We just heard from the folks at Empire Biscuit, which is what the space will be called.

"Just wanted to let you know that we'll be serving Southern-style biscuits and biscuit sandwiches 24/7 beginning (hopefully) early this summer. We will not be serving the Scottish cookie. (It's an honest mistake. Enough people have been misdirected by our name that we might find a recipe and bang out a batch of Empire Biscuits now and then.) It's true that we will not be serving alcohol."

Updated 3:30
DNAinfo posted a piece with the Empire Biscuit crew this afternoon... noting that the owners, Yonadav Tsuna, 22, and Jonathan Price, 33, met in 2009 while working as waiters at Bouley in Tribeca.

Previously on EV Grieve:
'No bar/restaurant' for former Habibi Lounge space

Under the Williamsburg Bridge: Bloomberg's robot army or bike-share docking stations?



Oh, it's a photo of the docking stations for the city's bike-share program... stored for now under the Williamsburg Bridge before hitting the streets this spring ... The photo is from Saturday night via @finitor, who really wanted these to be Bloomberg's secret robot army.

Meanwhile, the photo reminded @lehrblogger of a scene from a movie ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Here are your East Village bike share locations, probably

Report: Citi Bike share back on track for a May debut, probably definitely

The East Village is in the 1st rollout phase of the bike-share program this May, probably for sure

Breaking! (Sort of!): Here come the bike-share docking stations

First sign of Wafels & Dinges on Avenue B



As we've been reporting, Wafels & Dinges is opening its first café based on the same concept as the popular food trucks in circulation around the city .... here on Avenue B and East Second Street... as you can see in the photo, there's a bit of a teaser up on the windows: "The dinges are coming."

W&D founder Thomas DeGeest, an East Village resident, told us back in January that the store was "progressing at turtle speed" and he was eyeing a spring opening date.

He also noted that it "will be as much a good coffee place as a waffle and ice cream place."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Is Wafels & Dinges opening a café on Second Street and Avenue B?

Wafels & Dinges hoping for a spring opening on Avenue B

Welcome to the neighborhood, Papaya King!



Coming very soon to St. Mark's Place near Third Avenue... where the plywood came down last week...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Papaya King coming to St. Mark's Place

This is the line to get into Wylie Dufresne's new restaurant Alder on Saturday



As you may have heard, noted LES chef Wylie Dufresne opened a new restaurant last Thursday called Alder on Second Avenue near East 10th Street.

Apparently it is popular.

@davidsokol passed along the above photo late Saturday afternoon... showing a line forming before the doors opened at 6. (Per the Alder website, the 56-seat restaurant does not accept reservations.)

In an opening preview last week in the Times, Florence Fabricant noted that Alder, "a complement to WD-50," serves "inventive twists on classics."

Such as!

The rye pasta includes pastrami, so with mustard sauce and pickles you have a homage to the pastrami on rye at the Second Avenue Deli, which used to be across the street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Wylie Dufresne bringing fancy cocktails for foodies